Gear Review- Echo Carbon XL

DISCLAIMER: I am not receiving any money, sponsorship, or free equipment from Echo, its parent company Rajeff Sports, or Rainbow Fly Shop.  I am posting the review completely on my own because I want to pass along some information about a fly rod that I am really impressed with and want to help give you an option should you be in the market for a fly rod in the near future.

About 6 months ago, I purchased an Echo 9 foot, 5 weight Carbon XL fly rod from Rainbow Fly Shop.  I was in the market for a nice 5 weight to trout fish with since my 6 weights felt a little overpowering when fighting a fish.  I decided on going with a 9 foot rod because I typically fish larger streams and lakes on top of the fact that almost all of my rods are between 8 and 1/2 to 9 foot rods.  I just like the ability to make long casts and feel of a 9 footer.  You can just call it personal preference and that would be pretty accurate.

Matt, the owner of Rainbow Fly Shop, had great things to say about Echo and all of their rods.  I also bought a 6 weight rod prior to the 5 weight and loved the overall feel of the rod.  I also agreed completely with Matt when he said that you can spend less money on an Echo as opposed to a higher end rod, but feel like you ended up with a higher quality rod without spending A LOT more money.  Matt was also kind enough to let me test out some rods in the parking lot with reels and line he provided as well as my own.

What I noticed first about the Carbon XL was how smooth it felt.  It felt like the perfect balance between a stiff, fast rod and the flexibility of a slower, softer rod.  I was amazed at how the "feel" I was expecting from my first 5 weight purchase actually matched the performance.  I knew what I wanted to feel and see in a 5 weight and my expectations were quickly met when I made my first cast.  I have never done a fly rod review before and I am struggling to find the right words to describe the overall performance of the rod other than to say it just felt right.  It also felt like I was casting a much more expensive fly rod and was very surprised to find the rod was within my small budget.  I was wanting to spend a little more than a hundred dollars on a rod, but was able to justify spending more because it was still less than an Orvis or Sage rod.

My new rod sat in my rod cabinet for a few months because...well...I'm a little weird.  I didn't want to take my new rod to a local pond to catch bluegill on its maiden voyage.  I instead decided to inaugurate it on Lake Taneycomo.  I wanted to try making some short casts, long casts, and play some nice rainbows and brown trout.  I also wanted to see how it played fish and what a 20 inch rainbow would feel like on this rod that felt so smooth when casting.  I didn't know if the two feelings would match up, but again, I was not disappointed.

I was hoping that a 5 weight would let me feel more connected to the fish.  To quantify that, I wanted there to be a deep bend in the rod, all the way to the handle, and I didn't want to feel like I was overpowering a fish like a trout.  Instead, it felt like I was evenly matched with the fish I was hooking that were in the 15-17 inch range and a little outgunned when I hooked into a 19 inch rainbow...which I liked.  I didn't want to feel like I was bringing in a bluegill on a broomstick with 20 pound mono and it felt like I was wrestling an opponent that was in my weight class.

Now I have had a soft spot for my 9 foot Cortland 6 weight for many years.  It has been my go-to trout rod for almost a decade and carried the moniker of "my favorite rod".  If there were a sash to be worn in my fly rod cabinet, "Courtney" as I sometimes refer to her would be adorned with bedazzled fabric...until now.  My Echo Carbon XL is now my favorite rod that I own when it comes to 5 and 6 weights and that is not writing in hyperbole.  If you are in the market for a new 5 weight, I highly suggest you give both Echo and Rainbow Fly Shop a try but don't just take my word for it.  Look at the price tag and make some casts and the two things might add up to a new fly rod going home with you.

Rainbow Fly Shop: http://www.kcflyshop.com/

Echo: http://echoflyfishing.com/